Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Big Hair

[Sorry about the long gap between posts: among other things, I managed to injure myself while putting in a new hot water system, and my wife managed to injure herself while cooking, so it's been Uncoordinated Self-Inflicted Iinjury Fortnight at our place.]

I've never read George Pelecanos--he's one of those writers I keep heariung great things about, but have never got around to. However, now seems a good time to start: his UK publisher, Orion, is doing a three-version launch of his most recent book, What It Was, which is probably a test in how to make money in the new digital publishing world. They're simultaneously doing an ultra-cheap ebook, a normal paperback, and a fancy-pants (but not over-expensive) hardcover. And it has worked on me, since I've now ordered the hardcover.

The novel is set in 1972, and the book has a full-on blaxsploitation look. I can find no info on the designer anywhere, sadly. Here's the hardcover:

Reagan Arthur has the same three-version launch strategy in the US, but the art for the slipcased special edition is different. You can take a look here: https://twitter.com/#!/EsPopEdiciones/status/164336328698368000/photo/1The design is credited to Keith Hayes with illustrations by Philip E. Pascuzzo.I quite like them both.